Linkoping, Sweden — The relentless grind of the Worldstars' schedule is starting to show on the ice.

Linkoping HC, Sweden's second-place team, beat the travelling group of locked out NHL players 6-4 at the Cloetta Centre on Sunday, and the pace was so slow that Linkoping president Mike Helber said it was “embarrassing, truly, I'm sorry to say.”

“It's sad for the 5,000 people who paid for tickets to see it,” Helber said as he stood in the 8,500-seat arena. “It's both teams. Our guys are also acting like they're on vacation.”

The exhibition affair was up against a more relevant Sweden-Finland hockey game on TV.

For the Worldstars, who have had players joining and leaving the roster since the Dec. 7 departure from Toronto, it was the eighth game in 11 days in five countries, and no two games have been played in the same city.

“Their guys have done a lot of travelling,” said Brendan Morrison, the Vancouver Canucks' star who is waiting out the lockout with Linkoping. “They look a little worn out.

“We didn't want to get into a situation where one team is not fully into it and the other team is flying around. Sometimes, that's when injuries occur. But I think it was a fun game and the fans got to see some nice goals.”

Despite Helber's concern, the fans gave both teams a standing ovation at game's end.

“I hope people weren't disappointed,” added Morrison. “I hope they know they weren't going to see a playoff-type game.

“Guys will be a little cautious out there but, tonight, overly cautious might be the word.”

The win gave Swedish club teams a 2-1 record against the Worldstars. Farjestads wiped them out 6-1 on Thursday and NHLer's rebounded with a 5-1 win over HV71 in Jonkoping on Friday.

They are 5-3 on the trip, which ends with what should be light games against all-star teams Tuesday in Oslo and Wednesday in Katowice, Poland.

The Worldstars spent an off day Saturday in Stockholm and looked to have left their legs behind.

“There's been lots of travelling and hockey and guys getting sick, too,” said defenceman Robyn Regehr, one of a handful of players who battled a flu on the trip. “Thing are catching up to us.

“To boot, we played some pretty good skating teams at the beginning, like the Russians, and we weren't in top shape coming in. It's just that the tank is getting empty.”

Linkoping has put NHLers Morrison, Mike Knuble and Kristian Huselius on a line so as not to disrupt the team if the lockout ends, and they comprise Sweden's hottest trio.

Each had a goal for Linkoping, which also got goals from Mikael Hakansson, Johan Andersson and Tim Eriksson.

Morrison is tied with Edmonton Oiler Shawn Horcoff for second in league scoring with 31 points in 29 games. Peter Forsberg of Modo leads with 33 points.

Tough guy Tie Domi paced the Worldstars with two third-period goals and an assist on Matthias Norstrom's goal only 28 seconds into the match. Anson Carter scored in the second frame.

“I think we're almost hitting a wall,” Domi said. “Guys are edgier.

“It is a lot of hockey and a lot of travelling but, at the same time, we're still competing and we're having fun.”

In pre-game player introductions, the fans gave Domi almost as big a cheer as they gave Swedish hero Mats Sundin, and the enforcer outplayed his flagging Toronto teammate by a wide margin in this game.

With Linkoping leading 4-2, Domi redirected Ian Laperriere's pass behind young goaltender Daniel Sperrle at 15:00. After Eriksson made it 5-3, Domi put one shot off Sperrle's facemask and the rebound into the net.

That drew boos because, in international hockey, if the goalie is hit in the mask the referee is supposed to whistle the play dead. But this goal stood.

With goaltender Martin Brodeur pulled for an extra atttacker in the final minute, Huselius scored into the empty net.

Worldstars players didn't appreciate Helber's comment.

“I don't know what he's talking about,” said Domi.

“I don't think it was the most exciting game but, when one team gets going, the other follows,” added Brodeur. “They're in the middle of their season. They should be sharp, not us.”

Brodeur called the Worldstars' schedule crazy.

“It's stupid,” he said. “You'll never see that schedule again in the NHL or any other league.

“But we're doing it. Sometimes there's letdowns, but that's the way it goes.”

The Worldstars arrived in Linkoping on Sunday morning and about 10 of them took part in a skate with children. Steve Montador of the Calgary Flames has been added to the lineup.